Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cousin Gyan Singh Mann on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar. The joining ceremony took place at the party's Punjab office here.
Along with Gyan Singh Mann, Barnala-based businessman and NRI Baljinder Singh Barnala, as well as Manjinder Singh Sajan Khera, former personal assistant to Jalalabad MLA Goldy Kamboj and AAP's Arniwala Johl in-charge, also joined the BJP.
Addressing media persons after joining the BJP, Gyan Singh Mann said he and his 'brother' (Bhagwant Mann) started their political journey in 2012 with the People's Party of Punjab. He stated that he was impressed with Arvind Kejriwal's views and later aligned with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
However, Gyan Singh alleged that after the AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022, it turned into the 'Khaas Aadmi Party' (Special Person Party). He claimed that the party gave 'tickets to money bags in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by ignoring volunteers' and sent people to Rajya Sabha who were not even party volunteers, barring a couple of leaders from Delhi. He also criticized the AAP-led government over issues of drugs, corruption, unemployment, and gangsterism. Gyan Singh alleged that people from Delhi came to Punjab after losing elections in the national capital and were now calling the shots in Punjab. 'I hope the BJP can save Punjab,' he said, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Addressing a joint press conference with Saini, Jakhar welcomed the leaders into the BJP. He said, 'They originally joined the AAP with hopes for change, but after seeing those dreams shattered, they had now decided to become part of the BJP family.'
Responding to a question regarding local body polls, Jakhar said, 'The party is fully prepared for the upcoming local body elections, and the people of Punjab are also ready to end AAP's corrupt rule.' He warned, 'The government machinery must maintain neutrality during elections, failing which biased officers, along with political leaders, will also be held accountable in due course.'
